Getting to know : Patong’s Aptly-Named ‘Journey Hub’ Hotel

‘Journey Hub’ is perhaps at first blush a somewhat strange name for a newly opened hotel in Patong, but once you enter this welcoming 198-room hotel on Phungmuang Sai Kor Road, less than 15 minutes’ walk from the heart of Patong, Jungceylon Shopping Center, Bangla Road and world-famous Patong Beach, you’ll begin to understand the name and the whole interesting idea behind it.

Journey Hub is all about traveller sociability and sharing of information, experiences, friendship and well, just pure hedonism and fun.

There’s a lot of charming quirkiness about Journey Hub. Firstly, you don’t check in at the ground floor, but instead take an elevator up into the sky to reach the lobby, on the eight floor roof area, with its grand sweeping vistas. The views here are magnificent, overlooking Patong Bay about a kilometer to the west and the remarkably verdant green hills of Phuket’s central massif to the east.

The hotel’s welcoming lobby with these stunning views and huge windows is immediately impressive for its clamorous array of icons, ornaments, decorations and plants cascading down the walls. You feel warmly embraced by this funky space as you enter, and the friendly smiling staff are also on hand to greet you, check you in and settle you into your room.

One immediately enticing facet of this roof top eerie is the outdoor saltwater infinity swimming pool which hangs tantalizingly in the sky, eight floors up with clear, safety-glass, siding so you have the most amazing views as you do your laps, or simply laze around with a relaxing drink. Beside the pool, is an outdoor garden with intimate couple cabana tents in which loved-up guests can cuddle.

Or there’s the inviting curved outdoor poolside bar and open patio area with tables and chairs, the scene of many new friendships and the meeting of enthusiastic travellers’ minds

The bar has an extensive list of traditional cocktails, wines by the bottle and glass, mixed drinks, smoothies made to order, and even an iconic Bloody Mary Menu no less!

To help burn off all the pleasant hedonism that Jour-ney Hub seems to engender, there’s a fully-equipped gym with running machines, free and machine-based weights, reclining bicycles and a range of other equip-ment.

The restaurant invites you in with its relaxing roof-top lounge atmosphere and panoramic views over Patong. The cuisine is tasty, delicious and very reasonably priced with an eclectic array of Caribbean, Mediter-ranean and Thai dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

That’s what Journey Hub is all about an exciting new hotel experience that’s vibrant, affordable and young-at-heart.

Situated in its rooftop eerie it is energetic, yet relaxing and comfortable at the same time.

You’ll find it familiar and friendly, yet also unexpect-ed and super-connected – both to the outside world through the free, fast Wi-Fi and charging points throughout the hotel, and connected within through the conviviality of the environment, which seems to help forge friendships and draw people together.